Gravitational Pull and Parachute Investigation

1497 Words3 Pages

Gravitational Pull and Parachute Investigation

Aim

The aim of the experiment is to investigate how each of several

different weights of varying mass attached to a parachute in turn can

influence the gravitational pull and air resistance forces acting on

it, consequently affecting the time it takes to reach the ground when

dropped from a specific height.

Preliminary Work

Forces are measured in Newtons (N), named after Isaac Newton who

invented this unit. We cannot see them but instead we can see their

effects on objects, so forces are described in terms of what they do.

They can cause objects to turn, change speed, direction or shape.

The forces acting on a falling parachute are gravity and air

resistance and these are the two forces which affect the speed at

which the parachute falls.

Air resistance (also called drag) is when air molecules collide with

an object’s leading surface. This is the opposite force to gravity,

and can slow falling objects down.

The actual amount of air resistance encountered by the

object depends on a variety of factors. The two most common factors

which have a direct effect upon the amount of air resistance are:

- the speed of the object

- the cross-sectional area of the object

Increased speeds and increased cross-sectional areas result in an

increased amount of air resistance.

Gravity is what causes objects to fall downwards. If there was no air

resistance, all falling objects would accelerate at 10m/s/s (10m/s²)

because there would be no other force to change the speed.

Acceleration is the rate at which the velocity of an object changes

over a period of time. It is measured in m/s², and it tells you how

much the velocity will change each second. When air resistance is

present, objects with different mass accelerate at different speeds.

Parachutes, as used in this investigation, are effective because they

have a very large surface area compared to the weight attached and so

Open Document